Mast



June 28 1938. E. J. w. RAGSDALE ET AL 2.122.380

MAST

Original Filed March 22, 1934 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 N VEN TORS EARLlWRAGsDALE CHAmLs B. CoNwnLL ATTORNEY.

lPmi A s Smets-sheet 2 June 28, 1938. E. J. w. RAGSDALE Er AL MAST Original Filed March 22, 1934 INVNToRs EARLJMRAGSDALE SNL CHARLES BCONWELL A TTORNE Y.

June 28, 1938. E. J, w. RAGSDALE ET AL 2,122,380

MAS T Original Filed March 22, 1934 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS EAIaLlW RAGSDALB 36 BY CHARLES B. Com/vnu.

ATT'oRNEY.

June 28, 1938. E. J. w. RAGSDALE ET AL 2,122,380

MAST

original Filed March 22,

June 28, 1938.

E. J. w.l RAGsDALE Er AL MAST Original Filed March 22, 1934 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 FICH/l.

mmm NSW EGN V O mmc. WBS .I E L Rmw, AH EC.

ATTORNEY.

'June 28, 1938.

umm

`lune 28, 1938.

E. J. W. RAGSDALE El AL MAST original Filed March 22, 1954 'e sheets-sheet 7 INVENToRs EARLJW. DAGSDALE BY CHARLES B. CoNwl-:LL

ATTORNEY.

June 28, 1938. l E. J. w. RAGSDALE ET A1. 2,122,380

MAST Original Filed March 22, 1934 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 NVENTORS EARL 1W RAGSDALE By CHARLES B. CoNwx-:LL

A TTORNE Y.

Patented June 28, 1938 UNITED STATE MAST Application lMarch 22, 1934. Serial No. 716,836

Renewed November 19, 1937 (Cl. 18S- 23) 18 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to sheet metal column structures and more specifically to hollow sheet metal, tapered column structures for use as ships masts or the like.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a relatively light sheet metal column structure capable of being formed as a mast with any desi-red taper and to which various fittings for the support of rigging and various other equipment may be readily and securelyv attached during' fabrication of the structure, the iinished mast being capable of replacing a mast of the usual type of several times its weight.

Another and important 'object is to provide a 1.5 structure of the above type capable of being fabricated from strips of .sheet stainless steel by spot welding and with a high degree of accuracy in form and dimensions in the ilnished structure but with an easy tolerance as to form and dimension of the constituent elements.

' Another object is the provision of a novel form of tapered stave and cooperative arrangement of such staves capable of being utilized in the construction of a mast of the above type, the tapered staves presenting substantially no additional difilculty in their formation over that of a straight sided stave. v

, Another object is the provision of a structure of the above type formed from structural elements capable of being used in identical form in several diiferent parts of the vrstructure and so shaped and related to each other as to be readily accessible for spot Jwelding at those stages .of the construction in which such spot welding is rey quired.

sirable qualities of high tensile strength and re' sistance to corrosion, and resulting in maximum strength with simplicityA of structure.

Various other objects and advantages will be come apparent as the description proceeds, it being understood that the construction disclosed is not limited to utilization in a mast or tapering column er beam, but may be used generally wher-l ever a tubular column structure is desired.

The invention will be more readily -understood upon reference to the following speccation and thedrawings accompanying same.

In the drawings: j Fig. 1 is an? elevation of a tapered mast. constructed'accoiiding to the present invention, with attachments dmitted.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through one side wall of the mast. the thickness of the sheet metal elements being exaggerated for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 3 is a. fragmentary perspective view, on an enlarged scale, in section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 5 showing the shape and overlapping arrangement ofthe staves.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary large scale sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view on a small scale of a 10 bulk-head member.

' Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 'l is a half section on the same scale as Fig. 4, but taken on the line 1-1 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the top l5 or small end of the mast.

Fig. 9 is a quarter sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section taken on the line Ill-lll oi' Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of the bottom end of the mast, with the base member removed.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a ladder bracket. Fig. 13 is a section on the line I3|3 of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a side elevation of a simpliiied modification.

Fig. l5 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the upper portion of Fig. 14.

. Fig. 16 is a transverse section on a large scale,

Fig. 17 is a section on the line |1'-|1 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line I8-l8 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 19 is a section taken on the line lil-i9 of Fig. 15 and enlarged thereover.

Fig. 20 is aV fragmentary view partly in section on the vline`2IlI-2ll of Fig. 15 on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary view in section on the line 2l-2I of Fig. 20.

Fig,A 22 is an exploded view of a preferred for of base structure. v l Fig. 23 is a starboard side view on an enlarged cale. i

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary side elevation on an enlarged scale showing an attaching lug joint.

Fig. 25 is a section online 25-25 of Fig. 24.

Fig. 26 is a transverse lsection through the mast showing a joint for attaching lugs on the starboard and port sides of the mast.

Fig. 27 is a side view of the swivel lug of Fig. 26.

Fig. 28 is a fragmentary perspective view showing top and bottom portions of the joint near the section line 1--1 of Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and rst to Figs. 1 to 13, thawaus of the mast are made in the general form of two trough-like halves I0.

as shown in Fig. 3 secured together in spaced relation by a channel section cover plate II as in dicated in Fig. 4. 'I'he wall structure ot f-each half is built up of inner and outer layers of staves lar staves are arranged with their adjoining edges spaced slightly apart with the angular corners of the staves of the ,inner layer overlapping the angular corners of the staves of the outer iayer,

6 mast but having the 0 overlapping. portions o1' the inner and outer `ening rib of T-shape section.

and the joints between staves of one layer staggered with respect to those of the other layer. The staves are so shaped as to have a wide portion on onel side of the angle anda relatively narrow portion on the other side, in which respect they are shaped as rights and leits, for di'erent adjacent layers, that is the staves of one layer` are what might be termed mirrored images of those of the adjacent layer so that when laid with their corners overlapping, the narrow side nf one stave will be overlapped by the broad side of the other, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3. In the present instance the angles of the staves are such as toform the corners of a duodecagon. In each half wall section the end stave I2 of the inner layer and the oppositely disposed end stave I3' of the outer layer vary in form from the other staves such that their narrow sides bend' sharply` outwardly to form outstanding outwardlg.y pro'- `jecting ilanges for the half wall section.-

The staves thus assembled to forma trough' like half portion of themast, together with the lapping wall staves and stift'ening ribs. The

longitudinal stiftening ribs I4 of angle-section overlapping the. overlapped wide portions o the staves between the angular Vridges of the staves, are all spot welded together through the several overlapping portions to form a unit structure.

s is clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 7, the stiften-A ing ribs are secured by vspot welds .I5 through the of staves.

by'a line of spot welds I5 to forma unitary stiil'- Connected to the end staves I2 and I3" are connecting anges I1 I8 in the form ci angle strips spot welded tothe end staves by rows of spot welds I9 and 20 respectively. The ehannel section cover plates II are welded to thereon- .necting anges I'I-I8 throughklines,l of `spot -welds 2|. Y A

Atfspaced intervals al-img the mast, strengthing in formgacording to. their nposition in the general form of two separate blk-heed members or sets of bulk-head members secured separately vto oppositetrough fsections and arrangedto overlap in the space ibetween Athe trough sections so as to b accessible for attachment'to each other fore the trough sections the closing strip II.

through such space beare securedtogether by As shown in Fig-4, in portion ofthe mast' kin the neighborhood of, section line 4-4 Qt'lls. 1, the hulk-heads'take the form` of tour transverse bulk-head members, 22 to 2l, respectively, each shapedA as shown in perspective in reduced size in Fig. 5. One pair of such bulk-head members, 22 23, is secured to the l-ower troughfsection Il! by means of angleclips 26 and 21 which connect the bulk-head members to the overlapg layers The stiiening ribs Il areeach formed from a pair of angle strips spot welded together provided bulk-head members 22 and 23 are provided with stiffening anges 28j as clearly shown in Fig. 5 and are arranged in overlapping contact at theirl lower ends, back-to-back with the anges 28 extending awayl from eachother, the overlapping portions being spot welded together by spot welds 30 as indicated in Fig. 4. Each of the bulk-head members'is provided with notches 36 in its peripheral edge' to clear the radial flanges of the stiiening ribs Il andis shaped to follow the contour of the interior of the trough section in spaced relation thereto, the .clearances thus provided permitting a. wide marginof adjustment in fitting the parts together. Similarly the bulk-head sections 24 .and 25 are secured in the upper trough section I0, and the parts are so proportioned and arranged in relation to each other that the ends of the bulk-head sections toward the sides of the trough will extend inte,v overlapping relation with each other in the space between the troughs when the two trough sections are placed together as shown in Figfi.v This enables the outer ends of opposite bulk-head members such as 23 and-25 to'be spot welded together where they overlap in thev -space between the two trough sections by1spot members along eachside of the mast forms in effect, a unit bulk-head connecting the two-'halves of the mast. To further join the trough members I0 to each other and to the bulk-heads, an intermediate joining member 3| of general trough sec= tion is provided, arranged with the base of the trough spot weldedthrough the overlapping endsz of sections 23-and 25,.'and with the side walls 32 and 33 spot-welded through the overlapping portions of the members I 1 -I2 and I 8-I 3', respectively.

In smaller sections ci themast such as tho'se in the neighborhood ofthe sectionline 1-1 of Fig. 1,- the bulk-heads take the simpler form as showri'in Fig. 7, where it will be seen they are comprised .of two bulk-head members4 34 and 35 connected respectively tothe lower and upper" trough sections by angle clips 25 and 21 connect-V ing the bulk-head -members with the overlapping ange of a stiienmembers 22 to,33 in their cooperative relation other parts pivthe structure in thatthey too areV with peripheral notches 36 te clear the stiflening ribs I4, and follow the lcontour of the' interior of the trough sections in spaced relation thereto, the clearances between the bulk-head members and the stifle-ning. ribs and inner staves head members' by spot welds being amply sulicient to permit a wide margin of adjustment o'r aiblk-'headv-member in its .place' before welding without Idanger of setting '1p stresses between the parts. The bulk-head members 34 and 35 also extend into the space between the trough' sections butdnstead oi' being secured together in a iap joint they'are joined through a' joining-member `31 in the form of a channel section strip extending dlametrically through the 'space between the trough sections with its back wa1l overlapping and spot welded to the bulk-Y 38. The joining 35 are 'at plates and\are similar to the quarter bulkheadI v'lo I l mast changes taper, section lin 9-9 in Fig. 1,

which is also the plane where the\mast passes through and is secured to the main deck, there are two large bulk-heads spaced a. relatively short distance apart one labove and one below this plane, .each comprising a pair of bulk-head members'39 (Fig. 9) of the samegeneral shape as thoser of Fig. '7 and similarly cooperativelymelated to other parts of the structure except that They are larger because of the larger diameter of the mast at this level, and' are reinforced by radial stiffening ribs 40 of angle section spot welded fiat alongthe under side 'of the .bulk-head plate with their outer ends sp'ctwelded through their vertical sides to the. radial flanges of 'the longitudinal stiflening ribs I4. The bulk-head members 39 vare also 'secured to the stiffening ribs I4 through angle clips 21 and to the inner staves by angle clips 26.V A channel section joining member 4I joins two diametrically opposite bulk-head members 39 by beingspot welded to each along the collar 45 (Fig. 1) having an opening with side' space between the trough sections by spot welds 42 and further secures the trough sections together by having its side walls spot welded to the spaced side edges of the troughs at points of overlap therewith as indicated at`43 in Fig. 9.

Also where the` mast changes taper and passes through the main deck nearv the plane of the section line 9-9 of Figs. 1 and 2, it is reinforced by longitudinal battens (Figs. 1, 2 and 9) of fiat cross section lying fiat against the facesA of the polygonal mast, curved to conform-to 'the reverse taper of the mast at this point and spot welded through both layers of staves and the longitudinal stiieningribs I4. This'afl'ords a reinforced zone Iat which the mast may be secured to the main deck by any known or other suitable means such as lugs, or a collar.- The bottoni of the mast may be secured to a deck below vthe main deck in any known or other suitable manner as vby the base walls suitably arranged toreceive the end of the mast preferably'in fiat contact with the faces of the polygonal mast andbolted or otherwise secured to the mast.

To facilitate bolting of the walls of the mast to` 4the collar 45,. the longitudinal stiiening ribs I4 are discontinued where the mast enters thecollar and are substituted by short reinforcing battens 46 (Figs. 2 and 11) of relatively thick, angle section fitted flat against the inner walls of the mast and spot welded thereto. l

Inasmuch as the mast tapers toward the top it is desirable to thin the walls as they approach the upperend by splicing in thinner staves in one -or both layers, preferably the outer layer. .This

thinning of the walls is accomplished in the present instance by discontinuing the outer layer of staves I3 at a given level and splicing in an outer layer of thinner staves I I3 as shown in Fig. 2 near the section line4-4. At this spliced joint the mast is reinforced by longitudinal battens 48 of angular cross section' fitted over thev angular ridges of the outer layerof staves I3 and II3 across the splice with filler members 41 interposed between the battens and the thin staves and welded in place by spot welds through the several overlapping layers. l

To further thin the walls of the mast near the topmost portion, one layer of staves is discon- -tinued beyond a given point leaving a single layer beyond that point to the top. In the present instance the layer of thin outer staves II3 is discontinued at the point 49 (Figs. 1 and 2) and the inner layer of staves I I2 continued on to the top as a single layer (Fig. 8) in which the joints between the angular staves II2 are covered by fiat coverstrips 50.

Continuous tapering of the mast to the top end without undue narrowing of the outer staves II3 is effected by discontinuing the staves H3 at a given level, for example just below the section line 1-'1 of Fig. 2, and continuing from thjere on to the top 49 of the outer layer with a third tier of outer staves 2I3, less in number and greater in angular width than the staves II3. This will be clear upon reference to Figs. 7 and 28 where it will be seen that there are-but four 'of the staves 2I3, two for each trough section, each stave extending from near one side of the bottom ridge 5I of a trough section to-the adjacent extreme side ridge 52 of the trough section.

To accommodate the inside layer of staves tc y the taper of the mast near thetop portion with-'- staves II2" of that trough section, and that the y angle subtended by the staves II2 is considerably greater than the angular width of the staves I2 (Figs. 3, 4 and 28).

The upper inside layer of staves II2 are spliced in as a continuation of the inside layer of staves I2 just below the section line 1-1 (Fig. 2) while the third tier 'of outer staves 2I3 are spliced in as a continuation of th'e outer layer slightly above the' section line 1-1 of Fig. 2. 'This general arrangement in tiers heretofore described is a vertical succession of tiers each substantially annular in shape. .The two troughsections of the mast, constructedas above described, and secured together by joining the complementary sections of the bulkheads together, and by joining the bulk-heads thus joined to the itwo trough sections through the channel section joining membersji and 31,

as is clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 7, respectively,

and the joint between the tiers of staves I2 and IIZ, inner and outer rows of battens 55 and 55, respectively (Figs. 1, 2 and '7), are spot welded across the adjacent tiers to reinforce said joints.

.The top end of the mast may be closed off by a top plate, cap, or other suitable top structure of the joint between the outer tiers II3 and 2| 3,

'according to the particular use to which the mast is to be put.

Referring now to the modified form of the device shown in Figs. 14 to 21 inclusive, this is a simplified form suitable for small masts, andl like the preferred form it is also built up of two trough like sections |56 and |51 secured together to form a. tapering column structure of duodecagonal form. The trough sections of this modiiied form are built up in substantially the same way as those in the preferred form previously described, except that there are no internal stiiening ribs corresponding to the ribs I4 of the form previously described.

The present form also diiers from the preferred forml in .that the bulk-.heads are each comprised of twooverlapping halves 58-59 0j generallyv semi-circular form provided with a ilange 6|) along the straight edge and having the periphery shaped to conform generally to the contour of -the inside of the trough section, but spaced therefrom to allow a suitable clearance all around for adjustment of the bulk-head member in placebefore welding. The bulk-head -members 58-59 are secured in their respective troughv sections by suitable angle clips Ell spot welded to the-bulk-head section and to the overlapping staves of the trough section. The flanged marginal edges of the bulk-head members E58 and 59 overlap in the space between the trough sections where they are spot welded together by spot welds 62 with their flanges 60 extending in opposite directions, as will be clear from inspection of Figs. 16 and 17.

To brace the bulk-head in a direction at right angles to the bracing afforded by the flanges 60, a channel section beam iswelded at its bottom Wall to each bulk-head on the flanged side ofthe bulk-head extending from the inside of the bulkhead flange'SO to near the peripheral edge of the bulk-head member., As the channel beams 63 extend over the overlapping marginal edges of the bulk-headv members, some of the spot welds 62 also pass through all four overlapping `members, that isthe edge portions of the bulk-heads and the central ends of the channel beams 63,

which multiple overlapping gives a hub like central' anchorage from which the radial reinforcing members 63 and flanges 60 radiate.

The bulk-head members 58 and 59 are further reinforced by angle beams 64 spot welded flat against one side of each of the bulk-head memvbers and arranged* thereon so that the innerv ends of the members 64 of one bulk-head mem,- ber will overlap those of the other bulk-head member inthe space between the trough sections permitting all four overlapping members to be spot welded together in the joining together of the two trough members by the bulkhead members.

'I'he two trough sections thus formed and secured together by the bulk-head members are further secured by side strips 65 through the longitudinal flanges, 66 in a manner similar in all respects to that described in connection wit the preferred form, Figs. 1 to 13.

Suitable yard arms such as the antenna yard arm 61, and signalv yard arm 68 are constructed as shown in Fig. 19, in a manner broadly similar to that of the mast construction in that they are constructed in the form of twotrough sections or halves 69 each composed of middle staves 1|!v and side staves 1| of angular section, the side staves being provided with flanges 12 for securing the troughs together through a median partition member 13 extending longitudinally along and diametrically across and through the 1inished .yard arm, said median members being provided with top apges 14 for carrying the various attachments for supporting antenna connections, signal devices, etc. The staves 10 and 1| are joined together by spot welding near the corner ridges of the staves 1|, while the two half sections are spot welded together through the several overlapping layers where the flanges 12 overlap the interposed median partitions 13.

For securing the yard arms 61 and 68 to the mast a special bracket structure is provided which upon reference to Figs. and 21 will' be seen to comprise a pair of hat bracket arms 15, each spot welded to two of the adjacent side faces 16-11 of the mast and extended outwardly therefrom beyond the rear side, from which point on` they are bifurcated by a semi-octagonal recess, shaped and proportioned toreceive one side of the yard arm 68. The bracket arm 15 is braced by top and bottom gusset plates 18 spot welded lcn to the bracket arm 15 through flanged portions 19 and connected to an outer face of the mast by suitable angle clips, such as 80. spot welded to the gusset plates -18 and Vto the faces such as 8|- of the mast. Further bracingof the bracket as a whole is eected by a trough shaped reinforcing member 82, having its sides spot welded to the gusset plates 18 and its bottom wall spot welded to the rear face or cover strip 65 of the mast. The yard arm 68 is bolted on tothe bracket by means of bolts 83 clamping the anged sides of the yard arm on Acomprised of .two angular staves 85, secured together at the bottom or central angle of the trough section by an overlapping outside angle stave 86. The two trough sections are secured together 'by longitudinal iianged strips 81 spot welded toV the outer side edges of the staves .85, and to corresponding anges on the other trough section through a pair of median partition plates 88 each extending diametrically across and longitudinally. of the signal arm, the trough sections and median plates being all secured together by spot welds passing through the several overlapping layers of metal .along the flanged sides of the yard arm.

For securing a ladder to the side o'f the mast, special brackets are provided as shown in Figs. 12 and. I3, each consisting of a sheet metal arm 98 of channel section with converging side walls, having one end of its bottom. wall bent downwardly to form a flange 9| and the adjacent ends of its side walls bent outwardly to form a pair of side anges 92. The outer or narrower end -of the bottom wall of the trough-section arm is extended outwardly to form a holding flange 91.

'I'he top of the arm 90 is closedby a cover member 93 secured to the sidewalls of the channel memberv by Vup-standing side'- flanges 94 spot v welded to side walls of the arm 90. vA flange 95 ture. The bracket as a whole is secured to the side faces of the mast through the anges 9|,

192 and 95 by spot welds 99, the mounting iianges being set at such angles as to lie iiat against the diiferent faces of the mast.. As will be clear from an inspection of Fig. 3, each bracket is arranged to be secured solely to one of the trough sections of the mast, thus enabling the brackets to be readily spot welded in place before the trough sections are brought together.

A preferred form of base collar 45 is shown in Figs. 22 and 23. This is fabricatedof fiat pieces of heavy gauge stainless steel arc welded together. The collar portion H5 is constructed first in two halves from a plurality of upstanding panel membersl IIB arranged to form the two halves of a collar with sides shaped to lie substantially fiat against the outer faces of the7 bottom end of the mast. The panel members ||6 are arc welded together along their adjoining edges and to a base plate section |1 at ||8 and H9 respectively. Buttress members |20 are arc welded to the outside faces of each of the panels IIB but spaced from the base plate sections to admit the insertion of a pair of semicircular intermediate locking plates |2-I. the sections of the collar portion H5 with their respective base plate sections are arc welded together to form a complete collar, the intermediate plates 2| are slidi-nto place between the bottoms of the buttress members |20 and the base plate, and welded together along their juxtaposed edges |22, after which the bottomsof the buttress members |20 are arc welded to the intermediate plate, and the intermediate plate welded to the base plate.

Where attaching lugs ,are to be joined to the sides of the mast for holding various rigging exerting a lateral stress on the mast, they are joined to the mast by stress transmitting members passing diametrically through the mast and secured to opposite walls thereof so as to distribute the load to both sides and thus prevent transverse elongation. Figs. 24and 25 show the method of joining a lug to the fore or aft side of the mast. Here the lug |23 is built up of over lapping layers of sheetmaterial on the end of a stress transmitting member |24 in the form of 'a strip of heavyA gauge sheet metal. The stress transmitting member |24 extends diametrically through the mast passing through suitable slots |25 in the cover plate Il and is secured to the latter at the lug carrying end through anges |26 formed on the ends of two of the layers of material forming the lug |23, the flanges |26 being spot welded to the cover stripthrough short reinforcing strips |21. At the end opposite the lug, the strip |24 is secured to the cover strip through short angle strips |20 spot welded to the strip |24 and to the cover strip. 1

Swivel lugs |29 (Figs. 26 and 27) are attached by means of a shaft |30 passing diametrically through the mast and holding the swivel lugs by suitable locked nutand .washerv connections |3|.

While we have thus shown certain specic embodiments of the invention for the sake 'of disclosure, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, but contemplates all such Variations thereof as fall fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is: y '1. A sheet metal column structure of polygonal cross-sectional contour formedfof over- After lappinglayers of tapered staves of angular section each stave having a relatively wide portion on one side of the angle and a relatively narrow portion on the other side of the angle, the narrow portions in one layer overlapping a portion of the wide portions of another layer, the marginal edges of the wide portions of both layers overlapping, and longitudinal stiiening ribs secured to the inside surfaces of the inside layer of staves each spot welded through the said overlapping marginal portions of the said wide portions, said ribsI having freely projecting arms and a bulk-head structure secured toV saidarms. 2. A sheet metal column structure comprising a pair of trough sections facing inwardly of the column and spaced apart, and a pair of bulkhead members xedly secured one to each trough within the trough and secured to each other in the space between the troughs.

3. A sheet metal column structure comprising a pair of trough sections facing inwardly of the column and spaced apart, and a pair of bulkhead members fixedly secured one to each trough within the trough extending into overlapping engagement witheach other in the space between the troughs and secured together in said space. l4. A sheet metal column structure comprising a pair of trough sections facing inwardly of the column and spaced apart, and a pair of bulkhead members xedly secured one to each trough within the trough extending into a position to be joined to each other at a point accessible through the space between the trough sections. 5. A'sheet metal column structure comprising Va pair of trough sections facing -inwardly of theA 6. A sheet metal column structure comprising iianged trough sections facing inwardly of the column and spaced apart, a pair of bracing members one secured within each of two adjacent trough sections and joined to each other in the space between the said two adjacent trough sections, and a longitudinal connecting strip joining the said adjacent trough sections together through their flanges.

7. A sheet metal column structure comprising flanged trough sections facing inwardly of the column, longitudinal connecting strips joining adjacent trough sections together through their flanges atpoints of juncture outside the column, and a channel section member disposed between the anges of said trough sections and secured thereto.

8. A sheet metal column structure comprising fianged trough sections facing inwardly of the column and spaced apart, a pair of bracing members one secured within each of two adjacent trough sections and joined to each other in the space between the said two adjacent trough sections', a joining ,member secured to the joined bracing members and to a pair of adjacent flanges of said adjacent trough sections, and a. coverl in nal assembly overlapping and joined to each other in the space between the two opposed trouglg sections.A e I 10. A sheet metal column structure comprising trough sections facing inwardly of the column and spaced'apart, and a pairof bracing inembers one joined to each of two trough sections and joined to each other in the space between the two adjacent trough sectionsf together with a l joining member secured to the joined bracing jacent trough sections and to two adjacent si-fie edges of said two adjacent trough sections.

11. A sheet metal column structure comprising trough sections facing inwardly of the column and spaced in their margins and transverse bulk` heads secured withinthe column directly to the inner faces of the trough sections andlextending between said Vtrough sections, and longitudinal strips closing the spaces between the margins oi' said trough sections. Y A

125A sheetmetal column structure Ycomprising overlapping layers of staves, the staves of each layer being spaced apart laterally with the I 25A spaces between the staves of one layer overlapped by the staves of an adjacent layer,I and stffening angle strips having :freely projecting arms and secured along the staves of one layer over an area -of overlap with an adjacent .layer by spot 30 welds through both layers, said, freely projecting arms serving as means for joining the column wall to a bulk head structure.

13. A tapered sheet metal mast formed of overlapping layers of tapered staves, one layer of staves being 'vertically arranged in successive annular tiers, the staves decreasing in number' and increasing in angular width in successive tiers toward the top oi.' the mast. Y

14. A, tapered sheet metal mast comprising stavesandsaid iiller membersl members in the said space between theI two ad' inner and outer layers of staves, one layer of 1 staves being vertically arranged in two annularA l. A tapered sheet metal mast formed of tapered staves vertically arranged in successive annular tiers one above the otherg:Y the staves decreasing in number and increasingin angular width in' successive tiers`toward the top of the mast. e

16. A tapered'sheet metal mast comprising overlappinglayers of staves, each layer of staves being vertically arranged in annular tiers one abovefthe other, the tiers of one layer being in staggered relation longitudinally ci the mast with respect tothose of the other layer, the' staves of the Atopmost tien of one layer being thinner than those of the next lower tier of that layer, and thetopznost tier of the other layerextending upwardlyYi beyond'the topmost tier of the said one layer-*to forma wall of one layer thickness. e '1:11 g'l. A sheet metal column structure of polygona] cross sectional contour formed of overlapped layers of staves of angular section overlapping atrrthe -angles and breaking joint between the angles, the joints of different layers being staggered and longitudinal stiieningrrlbs each secured through one arm' to the inside' surfaces of the inside layer of staves, and having another argh freely projecting, each of said ribs spot welded through the said overlappingpor-V tions between adjacent staggered joints o-different layers, and a bulk head structure secured tosaid freely projecting arms of the stiifening l ribs.

18. A sheet metal column structure'colprising overlapping layers of staves, the staves of each layer being spaced apart laterally with the spaces between the staves of one layer overlapped by the staves of an adjacent layer; stiilv ening angle strips having freely extendinggarmsv and arms overlapping and secured along the staves of one layer over an area ci overlap with an adjacent layer, and transverse bulkheads secured within the column structure both to the area of overlap between the staverlayers and to the freely extending armsof the stiffening angle- Strips. *Y j 'ff EARL J. W. RAGSDLE. z `CHARLES B. CONWEIL. 

